As we wait again for God's reconciling love and Christ's peace to come in our midst, we join our hearts and prayers with all who grieve the terrible violence and loss of lives at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut Dec. 14.
-- Ruthann K. Johansen
President of Bethany
We share this prayer from our Pastoral Care Team at Bethany:
Oh God on High,
What will it take to end the madness?
When will love, peace, hope replace fear, violence, aggression?
We can pray together thy will be done, but what happens when someone does not utter those words and picks up a gun?
Oh God,
We light a candle, a small flame, beneath your cross
a symbol of fear, violence, aggression
connecting two thousand years of one suffering now to this suffering.
A candle of love, peace, hope. Because we want to believe.
Yes, God,
open wide your cosmic arms
embracing 27...yes, 27 souls that were breathing just this morning.
The gunman included. We trust you know what to do.
May your heaven's realm pour down and sweep up the families who have lost the ones they loved deeply.
May human arms be the source of solace in the hear and now.
Now, God.
Wake us up out of our complacent slumber
to be courageous revolutionaries of your justice
to change the world to what we know it can be
to offer the Sacred Presence to all: child, teacher, enemy.
And may that be enough.
In the name of Jesus, who this day draws near to him those children...all children. Amen.